Pump for liquids



Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES oFFicE Application May 22, 1935, Serial No. 22,909

r In Germany June 5, 1934 8 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid pumps, and particularly to pumps specially adapted to viscous liquids and turbid waters.

One purpose of the invention is to secure large port openings such as will permit the operation of the pump at relatively high speeds. Another purpose is to facilitate replacement of worn valve elements and reduce the cost of such elements.

The invention contemplates the use with a single working space of a reciprocating pump, of a sleeve valve which controls both the admission and. discharge ports to and from that working space. The sleeve valve is reciprocated in timed relation with the displacing plunger and may be driven by any suitable means. It is practicable to use, in addition to the sleeve valve, an automatic admission valve and an automatic discharge valve, either or both. These will supplement'the action'of the sleeve valve at or near the opening of the inlet ports and at or near the closing of the discharge ports respectively. These automatic valves are preferably spring loaded so that they close promptly.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,--

Fig. 1 is an axial section through the working space of a single acting plunger pump equipped with the improved valve mechanism. In this figure the plunger is shown in full lines at mid stroke, the head end and crank end dead point positions being indicated in dotted lines. The sleeve valve is shown in full lines in the position in which the discharge port is full open, and in dotted lines in the position in which the inlet port is full open.

Fig. 2 is a small elevation of the pump intended to show the angular relation of the crank which drives the plunger to the cranks which drive the sleeve valve. 7

The supporting and housing structure includes a cylindrical element ll extending from a larger hollow cylindrical shell l2 which encloses the inletand discharge passages and the working space of the pump. Supported rigidly within the shell I2, by means not shown in Fig. 1, is a fixed annular partition l3 which divides the suction or inlet passage them the dischargepassage l5. At the upper endoi the cylindrical element H within the shell I2 is an outwardly extending flange l6 braced by webs, as shown. There is an annular series of through ports F in this flange.

Mounted in the cylindrical portion H is a structure made up of a cylindrical plunger guide [8 having a flange 19 which overlies the inner portion of the flange l6, and an outer skirt 20 which overlies and embraces the outer portion or" the flange I 6. Extending upward from the portions l9 and 20 and formed integrally therewith are a number of radial vanes 2| which are connected at their upper ends by a head 22. This head has a peripheral flange 23, a circular series of through ports 24 located as shown, and a conoidal inwardly extending diffuser 25.

The outer edges of the vanes 2! and, the peripheries of the flange 26 and head 22 are turned to cylindrical form and receive a reciprocating sleeve valve 26 which is provided with an outturned flange 21 at its lower margin. The sleeve valve 26 can make a sufliciently tight joint with parts 26 and 23 without the use of packing, so

none is shown. In cases where packing is desired it may be provided, for example, in the manner disclosed in my Patent 1,990,618, February 12, 1935. Sleeve valve 26 is driven through reciprocating rods 28. These rods work in guides 29, as shown. Stufiing boxes may be provided if desired.

The sleeve valve 26 is embraced by a ring 3| carried by the lower end of the partition l3. A packing 32 is conventionally illustrated and may be used to insure isolation of the suction space M and the discharge space l5. Coasting with a seat on the upper face of the flange l6 and controlling the ports I1 therein, is a ring valve 33. The radial vanes 2| are notched to permit the valve to lift, and loading springs 34 are used to insure a prompt seating of the valve. A similar ring valve 35 controls the ports 24 in the head 22 and is loaded in a closing direction by springs 36, as indicated.

While I prefer to use single ring valves as indi' cated at 33 and 35. a circular series of small valves is regarded as equivalent.

Working in the guide I8 is a displacing plunger 31 which is indicated as being driven by a crank 38 through connecting rod 36. Any suitable driving means may be used to reciprocate the plunger. The head end limit of travel of the plunger is indicated at h. e. in dotted lines and the crank end limiting position is similarly indicated at c. e.

The sleeve valve 26 is reciprocated by any suitable means, here indicated as parallel cranks 4!, which follow the crank 38 at an angle of approximately and pitmen 42 which connect the cranks and push rods 28.

When the plunger 3'! is at mid stroke, as shown in full lines, the sleeve valve 26 is at or substantially at one or the other of its two limits .of mo- 15.1011, 11 the plunger 3'! is then on the discharge stroke (moving toward the head end) sleeve valve 26 will be in the full line position and the discharge ports will be wide open and the inlet ports closed. On the other hand if the plunger 22 is on the suction stroke (moving toward the crank end) the sleeve valve will be in the dotted line position so that the inlet ports will be opened and the discharge valve will be closed. At the moment of opening of the suction valve, which occurs substantially at the beginning of the suction stroke, it is desirable to increase the port area, and this is efiected by the vlave 33 which opens through the preponderance of atmospheric pressure on the liquid being pumped. The loading of the valve 33 is such as to ensure its closure as soon as the sleeve valve 26 has moved far enough to give an adequate port area. This occurs early in the suction stroke.

As the plunger moves from the head end toward the crank end the valve 25 moves from approximately its mid position toward the head end and then back to its mid position. When the plunger moves from the crank end toward the head end the sleeve valve 26 moves toward the crank end and then back to its mid position, thus opening and closing communication from the working space to the discharge chamber 15.

The sleeve valve is preferably adjusted to open the discharge ports a little late, and to permit this the valve 35 is provided. This valve is quite heavily loaded so that it will not remain open longer than is absolutely necessary.

The invention has a number of important advantages. The sleeve valve 26 is simple in construction and may readily be replaced. When turbid water is pumped this is the element which receives the major portion of the wear. The port openings are large and the pump can consequently be operated at high speed. The provision of the auxiliary valves gives adequate port area, independently of the sleeve valve, at times when the latter is starting to open the inlet ports and about to close the discharge ports.

What is claimed is,

1. In a liquid pump the combination of means enclosing a working space and having peripheral inlet and discharge ports communicating with said working space; a reciprocating plunger working in said enclosing means; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said means and controlling said ports to open them in alternation; means providing an inlet passage and an exhaust passage adapted to communicate with corresponding ones of said ports and including passage separating means which seal with the exterior of the sleeve valve; and means for reciprocating said plunger and sleeve valve in timed relation.

2. In a liquid pump the combination of means enclosing a working space and having peripheral inlet and discharge ports communicating with said working space; working in said enclosing means; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said means and controlling said ports to open them in alternation; means providing an inlet passage and an exhaust passage adapted to communicate with corresponding ones of said ports and including passage separating means which seal with the exterior of the sleeve valve; means for reciprocating said plunger and sleeve valve in timed relation; and suction operated valve means controlling a communication from the inlet passage to the working space.

3. In a liquid pump the combination of means enclosing a working space and having peripheral inlet and discharge 'ports communicating With a reciprocating plungersaid working space; a reciprocating plunger working in said enclosing means; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said means and controlling said ports to open them in alternation; means providing an inlet passage and an exhaust passage adapted to communicate with corresponding ones of said ports and including passage separating means which seal with the exterior of the sleeve valve; means for reciprocating said plunger and sleeve valve in timed relation; and pressure operated valve means controlling a communication from the working space to said discharge passage.

4. In a liquid pump the combination of means enclosing a working space and having peripheral inlet and discharge ports communicating with said working space; a reciprocating plunger working in said enclosing means; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said means and controlling said ports to open them in alternation; means providing an inlet passage and an exhaust passage adapted to communicate with corresponding ones of said ports and including passage separating means which seal with the exterior of the sleeve valve; means for reciprocating said plunger and sleeve valve in timed relation; suction operated valve means controlling a communication from the inlet passage to the working space; and pressure operated valve means controlling a communication from the working space to said discharge passage.

5. In a liquid pump, the combination of means enclosing a working space and comprising spaced heads and a connecting structure providing flow ports extending substantially from head to head and communicating with said working space; a reciprocating plunger working through one of said heads; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said enclosing means and serving by its reciprocations to expose opposite ends of said ports alternately; and means separating inlet and discharge passages from each other, said means entering into sealing engagement with the exterior of said sleeve valve and said passages respectively leading to said ports.

6. In a liquid pump, the combination of means enclosing a working space and comprising spaced heads and a connecting structure providing flow ports extending substantially from head to head and communicating with said working space; a

reciprocating plunger working through one of said heads; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said enclosing means and serving by its reciprocations to expose opposite ends of said ports alternately; means separating inlet and discharge passages from each other, said means entering into sealing engagement with the exterior of said sleeve valve and said passages respectively leading to said ports; an automatic inlet valve leading from the inlet passage through one head to the working space; and an automatic discharge valve leading from the working space through the other head to the discharge passage.

7. In a liquid pump, the combination of means enclosing a working space and comprising spaced heads and a connecting structure providing flow ports extending substantially from head to head and communicating with said working space; a reciprocating plunger working through one of said heads; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said enclosing means and serving by its reciprocations to expose opposite ends of said ports alternately; means separating inlet and discharge passages from each other, said means entering into sealing engagement with the exterior of said sleeve valve and said passages respectively leading to said ports; an automatic inlet valve leading from the inlet passage through one head to the working space; an automatic discharge valve leading from the working space through the other head to the discharge passage; and means for loading said automatic valves in a closing direction.

8. In a liquid pump, the combination of means enclosing a working space and comprising spaced heads and a connecting structure providing flow ports extending substantially from head to head and communicating with said working space; a reciprocating plunger working through one of said heads; a reciprocating sleeve valve encircling said enclosing means adapted to seal with the heads thereof alternately, and serving by its reciprocations to expose opposite ends of said ports alternately; and means separating inlet and discharge passages from each other, said means entering into sealing engagement with the exterior of said sleeve valve and said passages 10 

